"You're the craziest girl in hiss-tory." He told her this with a tiny smile, and she beamed up at him in return. "Like I said, I'll love you when I meet the girl behind the mask, and I'll still love you if I don't."

Suddenly, she shifted away from him, her eyes widening in fear.

Chat innocently turned his head to the side, frowning. "What's wrong, my lady?"

Ladybug's shaking hand rose slowly from her lap, pointing towards his ring. She was frozen. Words attempted to escape her mouth, yet nothing but a small squeak emerged. He looked down, and saw that his Miraculous was on the verge of running out. As panicked as he became, he still couldn't resist the opportunity.

"This is a cat-astrophe."

Ladybug was silent, and she stood up without a word. She knew she couldn't get away. Her yo-yo was all sorts of tangled up in the rooftop's railing, a failed contraption to remove their suits. There was no way she could get it out in time to get down, and they obviously couldn't waltz into the house itself. Solemnly, she walked over to the opposite side of the roof, and leaned against the railing. As she put her head in her arms, Chat Noir could hear faint sobbing, along with the final beeping of his Miraculous.

And just like that, his transformation disappeared. Plagg materialized, exhausted, and began to complain.

"I can't believe you let your transformation run out! What were you up to that was so dire? Do you even know-" Adrien cut him off by shoving a piece of cheese in his mouth and quietly shooing him away. Plagg noticed Ladybug's defeated posture, and floated off to stuff his face. Adrien would have turned his attention back to Ladybug, but it had never left. His eyes were glued to her back as she continued to stand in silence, tears certainly running down her face.

Adrien was at an utter loss. There was nowhere to go. She would have to see him eventually. And if she really waited long enough, her Miraculous would also run out, after a while. He had never felt such guilt. They were never supposed to reveal who they were. Never. Their partnership was built on trust. Trust to get away before their transformations ran out. Trust, so they could keep Paris, and their secret identities safe.

Now, he had ruined everything in some enamored craze. Of course his Cataclysm wouldn't work, their suits were magical. What good would it do if he could use it on her? He had messed up so, so bad. Ladybug hadn't moved, he was frantically trying not to make any noise as a few sobs escaped his throat. His Lady had lost faith in him. She would never return his feelings. She had opened up to him and all she got in return was him putting them both, and the city, in potential danger. His love was worthless.

He choked down his tears, wiping his eyes on his shirt, and sat for a few minutes, staring at the starry night sky with bitter remorse. What was he going to do without her? She wouldn't trust him again. They wouldn't be able to work together like before. The stars gave him no consolation, twinkling on without any change. And yet, they still could only remind him of how her eyes had sparkled just the same.

In his head, he could see her grins as they bumped fists. He could feel every gaze they had ever shared resonating through his body, as he had swelled with pleasure at her affirming glances. Every slight bit of contact, every time she had chuckled at one of his silly jokes, and the feeling of her lips pressed to his, the feeling of complete faith and comfort with her against him, had collapsed. Dissipated with the last sounding of his Miraculous. It would all be absent. Just as his father dismissed him as lesser, weaker, now she would join him.

All of these outcomes he had conjectured, and she hadn't even seen him yet. These negative feelings, he couldn't let them get through to him too soon. He glanced at Ladybug once again, and saw that her shoulders still shook with emotion. She rested her head in her hands, elbows on the railing now. At least she'd stood up a little, and seemed to be gazing dully out at the cityscape.

He wanted so desperately to know what was going through her mind. Was she angry? Probably, she was obviously very shaken up. There was no way their partnership would ever be the same. She would never hold as much respect for him as she did he had gotten through his head. He dragged his hands across his face, groaning quietly in despair.

He wouldn't know for sure until he tried to reach out to her.

Adrien finally stood up, and he could see her stiffen as he approached her. Step by step, she seemed to shrink more and more, until he was a few paces behind her. Ladybug had yet to turn her head at all.

"You aren't even a little curious?" he conjectured. At this point, he wasn't sure what she was waiting for. "I know I messed up, and that it's my fault we're in this situation…" he lost his train of thought. He moved a step closer, as she noticeably tensed up. He tried to keep his voice from cracking as he spoke. "I messed up so bad, Ladybug… I know things will never be the same, I… I know you can't trust me after… " He paused, and tried to compose himself as his emotions welled up.

"I know I said I'd love you when I met the girl behind the mask. And that I'd love you if I never met her. That feeling… must not be mutual." Ladybug had begun to shudder again, yet still said nothing. Adrien began to grow frustrated. Why wouldn't she say anything? Did she hate him that much? Had he really made such a big mistake? He stopped caring about his perfect voice and composure, and tears began to run down his face. He stepped forward and tried to put his hand on her shoulder, but she rushed away. He spoke after her as he sunk to his knees.

"Please… tell me why you won't even look at me… Tell me how I can fix it. I don't want to lose you…" She stopped mid-step. Finally, Ladybug spoke, her voice shaking.

"I don't know how we'll make this work Chat." She sniffed, and wiped her eyes with her hands. "The only secret I've ever been able to keep… is my own." She turned around, keeping her eyes closed tight. Plagg peeked at Adrien from around the corner, but he shooed him away. She continued. "If I find out who you are, I'm bound to give it away, and you could… you…" she took a deep breath.

"You could get hurt because of me."

Adrien was at a loss for words. No anger. Just concern. He stood up, and walked closer to Ladybug, her eyes still shut tight.

"Please forgive me Ladybug."

"It wasn't your fault, Chat." He came closer. Her face was covered in residue from her crying, all his fault. He put his hands on her face softly, and brushed away what he could. One hand remained cupping her cheek. She didn't back away.

"Will you look at meow?" She gave a slight scoff.

"How will we make it work?" she asked, full of hesitation. He hushed her with his words, speaking very softly.

"We're Ladybug and Chat Noir. Nobody should want to mess with us." Their faces were undeniably close.

"Come on." he pleaded. So very close.

"I…" she shrunk away from his touch, and his heart dropped. Of course she would refuse. His lady would never allow this to happen. He went back to the railing, and was now the one with his face in his arms.

A few moments passed. Adrien sunk into disappointing acceptance that his love would remain unrequited. For the greater good. He turned around, his eyes squinted closed as he forced out something, anything to say.

"Do you think we could still be friends, I can just transform back… I-" he opened one eye, and his words felt as though they were stolen by the breeze.

"Marinette…?"

She turned in surprise, almost tripping over her shoes. Her eyes went from curiosity to almost horror as she saw him. They stared into each other's eyes, for just a moment, their looser clothing being the only motion between them. Marinette opened her mouth slightly, and whispered.

"Adrien?"